I had May 29th as the 12k posts XP award so that tracks. I can't get enough of my D&D fix so I'm excited to be back in action :)

In the meantime I've joined an SAO freeform game here on rpol that seems like it'll be pretty fun.

Definitely have the D&D itch that needs scratching. A few more character ideas I have floating around that need the right kind of game to have a chance to further develop. So very appreciative of the continued patience and persistence here. =D

I don't think the fish people event can be called a fiasco. We had barely even a round to take out the people casting the ritual, plus we defeated the enemies turning the mission into a partial success at least.

Oh no, I'm not blaming the party for how it went down at all, and it was definitely a partial success. We lost one victim but saved whoever would've been next. Psychologically, though, it was a bit of a hit to lose the victim even as we arrived. So it felt worse than it was.

Poor word choice, perhaps, but it's more about what it would feel like inside to find out they were too late again.

I figure with Victor able to remove 3/5 poisons/long rest, we can possibly make it back to the campsite and have everyone rest up to get the last two back to full. Unless there is another way to overcome the paralysis at this point? I won't have anything useful for this situation until 5th level. T_T

It could also just be a time thing.

It may or may not be something Victor can deal with, we'll have to see. Either way I don't think it'll be a good idea to take vulnerable NPCs out into the cold where roaming manticores can attack them :P

We might be best served staying in this cavern until we can restore them all, assuming we can do anything at all and that there aren't more of them out there to track down.

I didn't really want to give the cavern a consideration because remaining spider webs + campfire. Unless we want to move everyone out long enough to incinerate everything.

We can prestidigitate the web's away

Those of you with Prestidigimitation anyway ='D Handaxe for Nuts.

Just a little rough playing a character with below average intelligence, but not so low as to be simple-minded; just a bit slow. But I think I am getting it?

Victor, I'm happy to just let you play face for the moment. I'll chime in if I think of something, but otherwise, no worries on the spotlight.

My vote is for a long rest as I've been itching to level up but I'm happy to go along with the party decision if we think heading out sooner is better.

Either's fine for me, so I'll go with long.

Long = spell restore, so that works for me, too.

Long rest it is. Each of you can keep watch for up to 2 hours (the NPCs will be on watch too, but it will just be the two elves each taking a 4 hour watch, and they won't be able to help in any fights that may break out.)

With the tried and tested usage of a fire at the front of the cave, I doubt we will have issues. Or at least I'd hope not.

Animals avoid fire. People tend to investigate it. The Rimewood is hardly unpopulated. Still, if you want to leave it to the elven NPC's, they have pointy ears for a reason!

Carmen would do her stint in the middle of the night. Seeing through darkness would be a win condition.

Victor will take the last shift, it'll give him a chance to read his scripture and make his daily prayers.

Nuts will be on first watch. He's gonna cram berries down throats if they aren't eaten. =D

I'm sure he's overheard a mother telling her kids to eat their fruit and vegetables so they grow up big and strong like Carmen...

Grow up for the more formative years in the woods with a lot of fey and wildlife. Plenty of parent animals stuffing food in their children's mouths. Then drunken party animals trying to feed another and just cramming it in their face instead.

Yeah, that checks out. =)

Sorry for absence. RL.
I'm probably going to be taking a break for a little while once this particular mission wraps up sorry I haven't been more consistent. Taking a look at IC stuff next.

No worries. RL hits hard - especially with the way the last two years have been.

Amen to that!